ARLENE FINESenior Staff Reporter

Tucked behind a rambling, woodeddriveway in South Euclid is an oldstone building. Years ago it was the

address of Cleveland’s Chabad synagogue;now it serves as Cleveland’s kosher pantry.

The kosher pantry, formerly known asthe Russian/Kosher Foodbank, opened itsdoors more than 30 years ago when Shulaand Rabbi Zalman Kazen launched it to pro-vide food and spiritual nourishment tonewly arrived Jews from the former SovietUnion. Their foodbank, created in partner-ship with the Cleveland Foodbank and localdonors, began in the Zemach Zedek Con-gregation on Lee Road.

“My parents suffered greatly during theHolocaust and the Russian communist era,”says Devorah Alevsky, the Kazens’ daughterwho along with her grandson Rabbi YossiFriedman now runs the kosher pantry.“They understood what persecution can doto a person’s soul and have devoted their lives to actsof chesed and loving kindness to everyone in need.”

When the elderly Kazens moved to New York last

year, Alevsky and a group of volunteers stepped into keep the foodbank going. Under the auspices ofthe Cleveland Foodbank, they are providing weekly

packages of kosher food to 200 Jewish and non-Jewish families and monthly food parcels to anadditional 200 families.

Although members of Cleveland’s Chabadcommunity administer the program, the peo-ple they serve must span all religious beliefs.To qualify, clients must meet the ClevelandFoodbank’s general eligibility requirements interms of financial need and number of mem-bers in the household.

The food distributed by volunteers at thekosher pantry includes staples like pasta,sugar, oil, rice, oatmeal, peanut butter, tunafish, and various canned goods like tomatosauce and beans. Fresh apples, potatoes, onionsand cabbage are distributed when available.Unger’s and Lax & Mandel donate kosher breadand pastry.

“Our kosher bakers give us whatever theyhave left over at the end of the day,” saysAlevsky. “All our clients, Jewish and non-Jew-ish, consider a piece of challah a real treat.”

The economy has changed the face and dou-bled the number of clients Alevsky and her vol-

unteers are currently serving. “The rise inunemployment has greatly affected us,” she says.

Kosher pantry provides for area needy

Volunteers, from left, Debi Slater, Devorah Alevsky and Marci Rubinperform the mitzvah of helping feed the hungry.

Volunteer Faigie Stern helps get bags of kosher foodready for delivery.

But once either a husband or wife has found a job,“they are eager to stop asking for assistance and beself-sufficient.”

Many of Alevsky’s Jewish and non-Jewishclients live in government-subsidized apartmentson Mayfield and Warrensville Center Roads or atCedar Center. “Our low income, elderly residentsoften have to decide whether to buy medicine orfood,” says Valentina Adams, resident servicescoordinator for an apartment building at the cor-ner of Warrensville and Mayfield. “The extra food92 out of our 111 tenants receive from the kosherpantry makes a huge difference to them.”

During Jewish holidays, kosher foodbankclients, regardless of religion, are treated to partiesheld in their apartment social rooms.

Purim parties come complete with haman-taschen and shalach manot baskets. DuringPassover, everyone enjoys matzah and kosher wine.Chanukah is celebrated with a kosher chicken,latkes, donuts and chocolate gelt.

, g“We are very fortunate to have this pantry in the

South Euclid area that plays such a key role in fooddistribution,” says Karen Ponza, Cleveland Food-bank spokesperson. The number of those who arehungry continues to increase, “so it is important tohave (Alevsky and her volunteers) feeding so manypeople each month.”

Alevsky and her team also manage the Kazens’original Lee Road foodbank location. It is still beingused to serve 100 Russian émigrés, many of whomremain like extended family to the Kazens.

Despite her parents’ move, “my mother is on thephone 10 times a day, talking to some of these peo-ple or giving me advice about how to run thepantry,” says Alevsky. “Giving and helping othersis an essential part of her life.”

For information about the kosher pantry or to vol-unteer to pack or distribute groceries, call Alevsky at216-382-1878.

afine@cjn.org

JewishNewsJanuary 21, 2011 17 Shevat 5771

CLEVELAND

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Best OhioNon-Daily

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Pages 18-19

Kosher Food Pantry 2 pages.indd 1 8/31/12 11:46 AM

Pantry appreciates supportThank you to Arlene Fine for the beautiful

article about our Kosher Pantry (“Kosherpantry provides for area needy,” CJN, Jan. 21).It captured the essence of what we do, and wereceived so many comments and so muchpositive feedback. It was definitely a conversa-tion piece all weekend.

We received calls for food from families whowere grateful to find out that there is a placethat they can turn to for the help they need.Food was delivered to their homes within thehour. In addition, we got calls from families whowanted to volunteer and help deliver or packthe food, which they are doing this weekalready. Also, someone dropped off a couple ofshopping bags of food as a result.

I want to thank all the volunteers who cometo help, rain or snow. We could not do it withoutthem. We appreciate each one’s commitment,hard work and reliability. It is heartwarming tosee the parents and children come together tovolunteer, as well as teenagers and adults whoare dedicated and committed. Local templeshave also included the food pantry in their fooddrives and delivered as many as 50 shoppingbags full of kosher non-perishable items for dis-tribution. Together we all make a difference!

Devorah Alevsky, coordinatorKosher Pantry

February 4, 2011, page 6 December 2, 2011, page 7

Help Kosher Food BankEveryone knows about the Cleveland Foodbank,

but thanks to a CJN article (“Kosher pantry pro-vides for area needy,” Jan. 21), many of us learnedabout the Cleveland Kosher Food Bank.

I have had the opportunity to work with a won-derful woman, Rebbetzin Devorah Alevsky, whoseparents began The Kosher Food Bank 35 years ago.I have been volunteering for about a year withmany wonderful ladies twice a month.

Not too long ago, a friend came to me one Shab-bos and asked how she could help. Recently shecame along with her daughter to help us bag andwas so happy to assist in this mitzvah. Over 600bags are prepared and delivered by volunteers on amonthly basis. Rain, snow, or sleet, these bags aredelivered.

Someone asked me if I liked doing this. I thoughtto myself, thank G-d I can be the one bagging today.Times are difficult, and we still need the means topurchase gas for the delivery vans; heating, coolingand electricity for the building; and much more.During this time of Thanksgiving, think of TheKosher Food Bank at 2004 S. Green Road, SouthEuclid, Ohio 44121. Call to volunteer at 216-382-7202.

Debi Slater, Solon

JewishNewsCLEVELAND

www.cjn.org

While I was reading the Cleve-land Jewish News, I came across thearticle of the kosher pantry thathelps families with food (“Kosherpantry provides for area needy,”CJN, Jan. 21). My family reallyneeded it, and they came throughwith food for my boys and me – on

the sT

themweekgratthem

Thanks to kosher pantry

the same day that I called them.They are there when you need

them, by giving food-packagesweekly or by the month. I am sograteful that there are people likethem to help us out.

Barbara BackerCleveland Heights

February 11, 2011, page 7

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